National Allotments Week 2018

National Allotments Week 2018 takes place from August 13 – 19. So what, you may think, I don’t have an allotment, only a patio garden. Or perhaps you don’t have time to garden on an allotment. Maybe you’d like an allotment, but the waiting list is long and you’ll probably have moved out of the area by then because of work.

Fair enough, but if its that much of a problem, why are you reading this article? Is it because you know how important I believe it is for us all to grow some of our own food? And becaue I don’t presume that you all have an hour or more a day to spend tending your half acre plot? I hope so. Because I would like to think that I give you inspiration and make practical suggestions whatever the size of your garden and even if you have no garden at all.

National Allotments Week 2018 – where to garden

Organised by the National Allotment Society, this year’s theme is ‘Living and Growing’. Their angle is that if you’re on an allotment waiting list, you can start learning horticultural skills by growing herbs in a window box, tomatoes on a balcony, peach trees on the patio.

I wouldn’t disagree with our ability to garden in small – tiny – spaces. But don’t just do so because you’re waiting for an allotment. This could put you in the wrong mind set of it not being ‘proper’ gardening. It is proper gardening. Growing houseplants is proper gardening too.

You know how passionate I am about finding ways with you, to enable you to have and enjoy an edible ornamental garden. How we do this together depends on the size of your plot – small balcony, courtyard, allotment sized garden or an acre. And also on your gardening ability; for which Plews offers bespoke gardening lessons if you would like them.

A garden where flowers and fruit rub shoulders together increases your pleasure. Hanging baskets and wall pots filled with trailing strawberries, tumbling tomatoes, Pelargoniums (pot geraniums) and Lampranthus, for example. Suitable for a sunny wall on your balcony, in your courtyard, by your back door, next to your water butt. Add water retaining gel and slow release fertiliser to the potting compost to reduce your maintenance tasks. Now you have an edible ornamental garden to please you and the pollinating insects too.

quince tree in blossom, Cydonia oblongata, fruit tree, grow your own

National Allotments Week 2018 – the benefits of gardening

Gardening, along with other nature-related activities has proven health benefits. The Living and Growing campaign hopes

“to see everyone incorporating fruit and vegetable gardening in some way in to their lives; however small.”

Has gardening perhaps become even more essential given the busy-ness of our lives? Putting gardening higher up your priority list could give you that five or ten minutes of peace that you keep meaning to use for relaxation and never quite get around to.

We can accept that gardening is good for both our mental and physical health. But if a balcony is all the garden we have, how physical is that once the bags of potting compost have been carried up two flights of stairs?

sheep , stairs, acorn bank, cumbria, national trust

Remember the phrase is more inclusive than just gardening; think ‘engaging with the natural environment’. You could try getting off the train a couple of stops before home and walk through a local park. Or take a fitness class that meets in a green space. Personally, I would stretch this to include strolling down residential streets so you can eye up what’s growing in front gardens and climbing over fences. If you’re hoping to buy a garden locally (with house or flat attached) then its good to know what thrives and get ideas.

National Allotments Week 2018 – self-sufficiency and scaremongering

Then there is the question of food as a national resource. Great Britain, the United Kingdom is not self-sustaining in its meat, crop, fruit and vegetable production. This isn’t about the UK being or becoming totally self-sufficient. Of course there would always be foods we’d want or need to import; for example, it’s difficult to get pomegranates and bananas to ripen in this country. But do you not find it a bit scary to consider that the date this blog was first published, 11th August 2018, had we been solely reliant on home-grown food we would have run out a week before? (See footnote below)

digging for victory, allotments, allotment gardens, brisbane, queensland, australia, world war 2, ww2, 1941, wheelbarrow, fruit trees, women gardeners

digging for victory, 1941

This isn’t quite the place to get into the ins and outs of that discussion. The point I wanted to take from it is that if we consider food as a finite resource then we ought to be growing it, using it, conserving it. Some parts of our life we can control; elements like adverse weather we can’t. The impact that the current drought – or prolonged hot, dry spell if you prefer – has on farming and gardens is considerable.

We can take ‘living and growing’ as a catalyst to changing our mindset. As gardeners in our own small way we can make a difference, both to our personal / family budgets and to the wider economy. And that’s as well as getting the emotional, mental and physical benefits. Makes you look at brussels sprouts in a whole new light doesn’t it?

Footnote:
Defra stated in March 2016 that the UK is 76% self-sufficient (British food and farming at a glance). Parliament in January 2018 said the UK was
currently 61% self-sufficient in all foods ie including items like coffee and bananas; 75% in indigenous foods (Brexit: Future UK agriculture policy)

National Allotments Week 2018 – where to find more gardening

There are some reading suggestions from Plews Potting Shed’s Edible Gardens category below. Do remember that whether you need an edible garden design, a planting design for a potager, edible gardening lessons or a garden consultancy visit to sort out a particular problem, Plews can help, so contact us.

Formerly known as the National Society for Allotments and Leisure Gardeners (NSALG), the National Allotment Society is the leading organisation supporting, organising and campaigning for allotments. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is the Patron of the Society. During National Allotments Week 2018, Allotment groups are opening their gates and sharing their grow you own tips, fruit and vegetables, home-made cakes and freshly laid eggs with the wider public. Check out their website for details of open allotments near you.

The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens is a leading national charity involved with encouraging and supporting those who would like to grow their own food.

In London the ‘National Park City‘ status aimed at for July 2019 is about valuing green spaces. There will be further support and encouragement for people to be involved in local parks, planting trees and in community gardens.

And for further gardening advice and inspiration, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet – You could come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook too.